[18] Based on a true story which
took place just after Waterloo, this film manages to break the usual rule
of thumb which says that PG-rated movies are inevitably dire. It stars Cates
-- okay, significant plus point
there -- as a mysterious girl who turns up in a West Country village, and
who may be the exotic Princess of the title, or may be an impostor out to
con people. Her passage upwards through society towards the Prince Regent
is charted, though the story itself is very slight, the acting is the
film's major strong point, and should be compulsory viewing for anyone who
reckons Phoebe can't act. She acquits herself superbly, even against one of
those casts full of Britiish character actors which will have you going
"Isn't that...?" for half the movie - as in "Isn't that Servalan?" (and
yes, it is, still with a nifty line in costumes, albeit rather less S/M
than in her Blake's 7 days). Managing to be sweet without sinking to
saccharine, as "family entertainment" (shudder) goes, it's surprisingly
watchable fluff.
B+
